Genesis 49:13-27 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 49:13-21

Here we have Jacob's prophecy concerning six of his sons. I. Concerning Zebulun (Gen. 49:13), that his posterity should have their lot upon the seacoast, and should be merchants, and mariners, and traders at sea. This was fulfilled when, two or three hundred years after, the land of Canaan was divided by lot, and the border of Zebulun went up towards the sea, Josh. 19:11. Had they chosen their lot themselves, or Joshua appointed it, we might have supposed it done with design to make Jacob's... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 49:22-27

He closes with the blessings of his best beloved sons, Joseph and Benjamin; with these he will breathe his last. I. The blessing of Joseph, which is very large and full. He is compared (Gen. 49:22) to a fruitful bough, or young tree; for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction; he owned it, Gen. 41:52. His two sons were as branches of a vine, or other spreading plant, running over the wall. Note, God can make those fruitful, great comforts to themselves and others, who have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:13

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea ,.... Of the sea of Galilee, sometimes called the sea of Tiberias and of Gennesaret; and of the Mediterranean sea; and accordingly we find that the border of this tribe, when settled in the land of Canaan, was toward the sea, Joshua 19:10 and this was done, not at the discretion of Joshua, or at the choice of this tribe, but by lot; and which shows that Jacob said this under a spirit of prophecy, and which had its fulfilment two hundred years... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:14

Issachar is a strong ass ,.... Or as one, the note of similitude being wanting, as Ben Melech observes; "a bony" F5 חמר גרם "Asinus osseus", Montanus, Tigurine version, Munster, Vatablus, Drusius, Piscator, Cartwright. one, as the word signifies; not one that is lean, and nothing but skin and bones, as some interpret it, but that is strong and robust, able to carry burdens; and this tribe is compared to an ass, not for stupidity and sluggishness, but for its strength, and its use... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:15

And he saw that rest was good ,.... Not the house of the sanctuary, and attendance there, and the service of that, as the Targum of Jerusalem; nor the rest of the world to come, the happiness of a future state, as that of Jonathan; but rather, as Onkelos, the part and portion of the good land allotted him; he saw that a quiet industry exercised in a diligent cultivation and manuring his land was preferable to the hurry of a court, or the fatigue of a camp, or the dangers of the seas: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:16

Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. There is an elegant paronomasia, or an allusion to the name of Dan in those words, which signifies to judge, and the sense of them is, there should be heads, rulers, and judges of it, as the other tribes had; and this is the rather mentioned of him, because he is the first of the children of concubine wives as yet taken notice of; and what is here said of him is also to be understood of the rest of the sons of the concubines; for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:17

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path ,.... Or be like that sort of serpents called the adder; or rather, that which has the name of Cerastes, which lies among sand, and being of the same colour is not easily discerned, and is often trampled upon unawares, and bites at once, unexpected; as Bothart F8 Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 3. c. 12. col. 418, 419, 420. from various writers has shown; particularly Diodorus Siculus F9 Bibliothec. l. 3. p. 183. says, of this kind of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:18

I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. Jacob finding his spirits faint and flag, stops and breathes awhile before he proceeded any further in blessing the tribes; and as he found he was a dying man, and knew not how soon he should expire, expresses what he had been thoughtful of and concerned about in time past, and still was; that he had been waiting and hoping for, and expecting a state of happiness and bliss in another world, where he should be saved from sin and Satan, and the world,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:19

Gad, a troop shall overcome him ,.... There is a paronomasia, or an allusion to the name of Gad almost in every word of the verse, which signifies a troop: the whole is a prediction that this tribe would be a warlike one, and have the common fate of war, sometimes be conquered, and at other times conquer, but however should be at last entirely victorious; all the three Targums refer this to this tribe passing over Jordan at the head of the armies of Israel, into the land of Canaan, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:20

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat ,.... Which signifies that this tribe would have a sufficiency of food out of their own land, without being obliged to others, and that it would be of the best sort; it occupied a tract of land, as Andrichomius F12 Theatrum Terrae sanctae, p. 1. says, reaching from great Zidon to Carmel of the sea, a space of twenty miles in length; and in breadth, from the great sea to Asor, and even to Naason, a space of nine miles; the land of this tribe is very... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 49:13-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 49:22-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 49:20

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